Mentor fire levy increase up for vote

Funds would help refresh fleet, offset climbing costs, chief says

It has been more than 30 years since the city of Mentor has asked its residents for a tax increase.

City administrators say they can wait no longer if they are to maintain the current level of fire service.

Aging equipment and increasing costs in every area of Mentor Fire Department’s operations led city leaders to place a 1.5-mill replacement levy on the Nov. 7 ballot.

The levy would yield about $2.15 million annually and cost homeowners $30 a year per $100,000 in property valuation. Property owners currently pay $21.22 a year per $100,000 in home value for the current fiveyear renewal levy.

“The apparatus costs in the fire department have more than doubled since the levy was first passed in 1983,” Fire Chief Robert Searles said. “We project several apparatus replacement needs over the next 10 years. That’s not to mention buildings, wages and other costs.”

The department’s total budget for 2017 is about $11 million.

The existing levy initially provided about one-third of the department’s budget. Now it accounts for roughly 10 percent. The renewal is anticipated to generate $1.62 million this year.

The department’s run volume is nearly 8,000 calls annually, up from about 2,900 when the levy began.

“Our squads are very busy,” Searles said. “It’s not uncommon to have a 30-call day for our EMS providers.”

Within the next five years, he anticipates needing to replace 12 vehicles, at an estimated cost of $5 million.

The chief initially hopes

to replace a 1993 fire truck with more than 132,000 miles on it, then some squads. The backup command vehicle had to be taken out of service recently after racking up more than 100,000 miles.

The increase in vehicle costs are as follows:

• Rescue squad — $72,000 in 1985; $268,000 today

• Fire engine — $170,000 in 1986; $540,000 today

• Ladder truck — $646,000 in 1997; $1.6 million today

Outfitting the squads with advanced life-saving devices comes at a high price as well, the chief said. Examples include:

• King Vision laryngoscope — $5,000; allows rescuer to visualize the airway via video screen with ease and certainty

• Lucas Device (batterypowered mechanical CPR device) — $12,000; performs with greater efficiency than a rescuer, never fatigues and allows rescuers to perform other tasks without interruption

• Striker power cot and load system — $40,000 to $50,000 per system; hydraulically lifts patients weighing up to 700 pounds; reduces injury and fatigue to the rescuers and patients

“(What is) important is being prepared by keeping up our fire-fighting vehicle fleet,” Searles said. “Equally important is to safeguard our citizens by placing the latest in emergency medical equipment technology in the hands of our trained paramedics so we can achieve positive outcomes and even shorten the recovery time for our citizens who are ill or have been injured.”

New equipment also would help the city maintain its Class 2 ISO rating — Class 1 is best, 10 worst — which is based on the community’s fire preparedness, according to the Insurance Services Office.

“It saves residents and business owners money on their business and home insurance,” Fire Chief Bob Searles said.

Changes in wages since

the mid-1980s are as follows:

• Full-time firefighter/ paramedic — $22,698 (1983); $80,699 (2018 projection)

• Part-time firefighter — $5.75/hour (1986); $19.48/ hour (2018 projection)

The department employs 74 full-timers and 38 parttimers.

The fire levy is the municipality’s lone voted outside millage. The renewal levy last was approved in 2013 by nearly 80 percent of voters.

“The community’s always been supportive of the fire department,” Assistant City Manager Tony Zampedro said. “Along with having some of the best personnel in the area, we also supply them with some of the best equipment. We get as much useful life out of the of the equipment as we can, but in order to retain the qualitative edge that we enjoy here in Mentor, it is necessary to cycle out the equipment on a regular schedule.”

More than 33,600 people are eligible to cast their ballot on the 1.5-mill replacement levy.

BETSY SCOTT — THE NEWS-HERALD Mentor Fire Chief Bob Searles discusses the need for new levy money to meet equipment needs, such as replacing this 25-year-old engine with more than 132,000 miles.